Folding table leg lock



March 1, 1949.

I N. K. BROWN FOLDING TABLE LEG LOCK Filed April 7, 1947 \Nvawrog NoRMAN K. BROWN fiMM l 5 m M .T m a B A w. r- W 5 d 9N MW 2 Anoaug'g Patented Mar. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING TABLE LEG LOOK Norman K. Brown, South Haven, Mich.

Application April 7, 1947, Serial No. 739,813

1 Claim.

This invention relates to and is in connection with a novel structure of folding leg for tables. The tables in general, to which the invention may be most usefully applied, are light tables, one example of which is card tables, square in outline With four corners, at each of which a supporting leg is mounted which, when the table is in use extends vertically in a downward direction from the table top, and when not in use and is to be put away, the legs are folded against the under side of the top and usually within the border frame members of the table.

.My invention is directed to and has for its object and purpose the provision of a very practical, exceptionally sturdy and economical folding leg unit, one of which is readily secured at each corner of the table and inside the border frame at such corners. The folding leg unit is completely assembled before such attachment and when the attaching is done, it is by merely driving a number of screws into the table top frame members. Each leg when folded flat'against the underside of the table is provided with means such that it is releasably held against accidental movement, but can be readily turned to vertical position, and in such vertical position is rigidly locked and held against disconnection or other undesired movement. Furthermore, the lock which is provided is manually operable to release the leg when wanted for return folding against the underside of the top.

Further objects and purposes of the invention are to provide a folding table leg structure made largely from fiat metal, which is very economically produced by dies in large quantities, and all other parts are either stock parts or elements which are made by large quantity economical production on automatic screw or lathe machines.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation and section, the section being taken on the plane of line |-l of Fig. 2 looking against the inner side of the folding table leg of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. ,1 at right angles to the plane of the view shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary partial vertical section and side'elevation at one corner of the table with the leg in its folded position.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section and under plan on the plane of line 44 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the detail of structure for releasably holding a table leg in its folded position.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing, and the sectionsare taken looking in the directions indicated by the arrows.

A top to which the folding leg structure of my invention is applicable includes a rectangular frame having border side and end frame members I, making an open frame which is covered at its upper side by a top 2. The detail of structure of the top is subject to considerable variation. Usually the top is inset in the upper inner portions of the frame members as shown, but is not necessarily of such construction insofar as the applicability and utility of my invention is concerned. The table legs 3, one at each corner, of wood or equivalent material, each at its inner side and a short distance below its upper end is provided with a vertical recess 4 which may be routed out. The recess is somewhat elongated and rounded at its ends, as in Fig. 3. At the outer side of the leg and extending from the upper end downwardly for a distance below the lower side of the adjacent frame member I, a flat metal plate 5 is secured, and at the inner side a longer flat metal plate 6 is located, which reaches from the upper end of the leg a short distance below the lower end of the recess at 4 to cover it at its open side. Screws 1 secure the plates to the leg 3 near the lower ends of said plates.

The inner plate 6 at a point slightly above the plane of the lower sides of the frame members I, has an opening 8 therein which is in alinement with a horizontal passage 9 extending from the bottom of the upper end of the recesses 4 through the leg 3; and the plate 5 has an opening of slots in the plate 6 and into the recess 4, its outer side having a rivet or spot weld connection to the plate. A lever I3 of flat metal, at its intermediate portion is provided with a longitudinalrib M for strength, and at such intermediate portion, ears l5, one at each side edge of the lever, are turned to lie against and within the sides of the stirrup I2, with which they are pivotally connected to turn upon a horizontal axis when the leg is vertically extended, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper end portion of the lever terminates in a vertical slotted end H, the slot receiving the inner reduced diameter part of the locking bolt [0. A coiled compression spring I8 is around the bolt I0 between such upper end portion ll of the lever and the inner side of the plate, the metal of which, in forming the opening 8, is struck inmade, which will axially aline with,.the passage through the leg when the leg is" turned to its vertical supporting position andithrou h which the smaller free end part of the conical end portion H of the locking bolt Iii passes. It is" to be understood that the openings in the plate 5 and in the fla'nge I9 of the bracket when-alined as in Fig. 2, are shaped =toreceive the conical end-portion of the locking bolt so as to-provide a snug seat-and one which provides two thicknesses of metal with which the locking bolt engages.

-'Ihe'flange- 59 also has an-annular rib pressed therefrom to'definea socket 21 in which the end of the locking bolt will be seated when the leg is folded'against-the under side of the table. It also is pressed toform a recess or depression 22 at theside of theflange l9 opposite the recess 2 l to receive the head of a bolt used to pivotally connect the .legto the'bracke't. Said flange l9 at its lower edge has anoutwardly turned horizontal lug 23 adapted to-come against the under side of the adjacent table frame member l The bracket also includes a: second flange 24 of sheet metal at right angles-to the flange 19, the outer side of which is flat and lies against the inner sideof the other corner frame member, bestshown in Fig. 4-. It is also provided at its lower edge with an outwardly turned lug 25 to pass underneath the lower side of the table frame member i. against which itis located, and'there is also struck from the body of the flange 24 a large ear-26. Such ear Eli-extends substantial parallelism to the flange Wand between itand the flange is, the upper end portion of: the table leg is located, with:- the ear 26 against the plate 6 and the flange It. against: the plate 5. Screws El passing through the flanges lswandldhear' their: free ends and alsoupwardly. through the lugs- 23* and'yzfiand driven into the table; frame members i, permanently-secure the bracket: at a :corner of the table-at thev inner sides of the border-frame members" I. A bolt 28 hasa flat head received in the recessat22 of theflange I9 and passes horizontally through the plateb, leg 3, :platefi and the ear 26, and hasa nut threaded thereon at its inner end, thereby mounting the leg. for apivotal turning movement about the axis of the. .bolt.

When in folded position as in Fig. 3, the legs of a table lie flat against the under side of the top and are within the border frame of thetable. I

The taperedendportion ll of the lockingbolt I0 is seated in the seat at 2] (Fig, 5). ,EaQhleg, is thereupon releasably retained against accidental disconnection, butbya force'supplied at the outer end of a leg to turn itabout the bolt 28,

theend of the bolt ill may be pulled over the sure of the spring l8; the=legbeinglocked in such" vertical position and very firmly and securely Number 4 held in. the keeper provided for the tapered end H of the bolt H! by the two thicknesses of metal of the flange I9 and the plate 5, as shown in Fig. 2.

To release the leg for folding, the ;push,.. button 16 which extends through the lower part of the plate 5 is pressed against to turn the lever about its pivot, thereupon moving the locking bolt l0 'inwardlyandreleasing it from the keeper opening. .at- 2I!, spring; 18 being compressed. As soon as the release of the lock has taken place and the .leg has :been-turned away from vertical, pres- .sureupon. the push button 56 may be removed and the locking bolt will, ride against the flange l9 until it passesover the annular rib surround ingthe recess 2 I in which; recess the end of the locking bolt is received. v

The structure described is particularly sturdy in construction;and-rigid in the manner'in which the leg is 'heldin secure-connection with the table top whena' leg is moved to its vertical supporting position. It is impossible for the legto-accidentally' fold. "The-manually operablemechanisrn for releasing the lockis-housed within-the r recess at'dand covered by' the plate 6, the only projection, and'thatat the inner side of the leg, being the push button at. 16. The structure is very practical and useful and has-proven to be so in service.

The invention is 'definedin the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure, coming within their scope.

I claim:

A foldingtableleg assemblycomprising a, plate havingv a detent receiving opening attached to a table, a table leg pivoted to said platea distance from said opening, and having a chamber opening at the side of the legopposite from said plate, a second plate attached to said leg and covering said chamber, a detent plunger extending through said leg and into said chamber and removably entering said detent receiving opening, an annular groove insaid plunger within said chamber, a lever located within said chamber and pivoted between its ends .to said second plate, one .end of said. lever having a push button extending through anopening in said second plate and the other end of said lever being forked and straddling said plunger Within said annular groove, a spring surrounding said plunger and seated between said second plate and said forked end ofthe lever and a depression in said first plate located at degrees about the leg pivot from the detent, receiving opening and adapted to receive the end of said plunger.

NORMAN K. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED IIhe tollowing references. are of record in the file ofthis, patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS am ..1;?ate l,8l8,118 Deming Aug. 11,. 1931 2,217,914 McMahn Oct.,15, 1940 2,230,220 Cumminsc Feb. 4, 1941 FOREIG ATE T Number Country Date 819,420 France Oc.t..\19,, 1937 

